‘The pure and true religion’ in China

Abstract

In the course of ten centuries the Muslims of China have witnessed a succession of civil wars, rebellions and invasions. They have endured natural disasters, enforced resettlement, and religious suppression. Their mosques have been sacked, their imams persecuted and for long periods they have been completely isolated from the powerhouses of Islam. Yet, the Muslim community of China has not only survived, it has grown from strength to strength. Today, China is home to a Muslim community which is larger than that in any Arab country except Egypt. China, however, is still widely regarded as an outpost of the Islamic world and the rich history of China's Muslim peoples, not to mention their present, remains largely neglected by Islamicists and Sinologists alike. This paper provides a brief sketch of the sociopolitical development of Islam in China and an analysis of the relationships between the different ethnic groups of the Muslim community, between the Muslim community and the non-Muslim population, the state and the Islamic world in general. Against this background, the current status of Islam in China is then examined. The paper focuses on the reforms introduced since 1978 and the unprecedented steps that Beijing is now taking in order to accommodate Islam and reconcile the Muslim community. The final section of the paper seeks to assess what the future holds for China's Muslims and argues that although the present mood of economic, political and social reform is being warmly welcomed by the Muslim community, nevertheless potential sources of tension remain and the long history of antagonism between the Muslims and their rulers should not be forgotten.